States Tackle Climate Change While Waiting for Executive Action

State leaders in California, New York and Washington are looking for legislative solutions to dealing with climate change, rather than waiting for the federal government to take action.

New York Times: California Gov. Jerry Brown “has made battling climate change one of the centerpieces of his tenure … He has pressed for continued enforcement of the state’s cap-and-trade program … despite some critics’ calls to scale back amid the weak economy. And he has repeatedly criticized Congress for not doing enough to take action.”

“Last month, Gov. Jay Inslee of Washington signed an executive order to create a cap-and-trade program similar to California’s and updating the state’s emission limits.”

“Gathering support from other state and national leaders for stricter environmental regulations has been a cornerstone of Mr. Brown’s efforts. This summer, he plans to travel to Mexico as part of a trade mission and plans to press leaders there to sign a pledge to reduce greenhouse gases.”

Capital New York: In New York, “Attorney General Eric Schneiderman will propose legislation requiring the state’s electric and gas utilities to prepare for climate change to prevent widespread power outages.”

And: “Earlier this year, the state ordered Consolidated Edison to invest $1 billion to prepare its infrastructure for rising sea levels and extreme storms.”